Positive progress made towards welcoming Syrian refugees to Oswestry

Representatives from several community groups committed to helping Syrian refugees settle in Oswestry this summer, came together today to meet with Shropshire Council and Refugee Action, the organisation appointed to manage the refugee resettlement programme in Shropshire.

Key members of the Oswestry Welcomes Syrian Refugees group, CHALK CIC, FRESH (Fairness, Respect & Equality in Shropshire) and Oswestry Rotary Club (International Committee) explored how the many interested volunteers can assist Refugee Action in welcoming refugee families in the crucial first few weeks after they arrive in the county.

Lou Calvey, Refugee Action’s Head of Resettlement, and her colleague Jeremy Bernhaut, Resettlement Practice & Policy Manager, offered a detailed insight into what services they will be providing via the Government funded resettlement programme. How volunteer groups can plug any gaps in terms of extra support for the families in the first critical few weeks after their arrival was also discussed.

A full time Resettlement Manager and two support workers have recently been recruited by Refugee Action to deliver the resettlement programme for Shropshire.

Jools Payne, from Oswestry Welcomes Syrian Refugees, who hosted the meeting, said: “We still don’t know exactly when the three families will arrive in Oswestry, but they’re not expected now until some point in the summer. Today’s meeting was about ensuring a cohesive support network is firmly in place when they do get here, dovetailing volunteer support with the service delivery from Refugee Action.

“It was a hugely positive meeting that brought a lot of clarity about the respective roles and responsibilities of the local authority, Refugee Action, other agencies and the community volunteer groups. We all left with a clear picture about who will do what and when, and how we can work in partnership to help ensure the individuals we will be warmly welcoming can settle into their new lives safely and successfully as they work towards independent living as quickly as possible.”